Mar 5, 2020, 5:17 pm
Last edit by: CPH-Flyer
This thread is for discussion of the coronavirus / COVID-19 pandemic as it relates to Japan. Non-Japan-related discussion should be taken either to the most relevant forum, the Coronavirus and Travel forum, or the OMNI forums.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
UPDATE FOR TOURISTS LOOKING TO VISIT JAPAN AFTER COVID-19 BORDER RESTRICTIONS EASE
Japan does currently not allow entry for general tourism purposes. Most visa waivers are suspended, and travel to Japan for non resident foreigners generally require a visa. And quarantine as described for the countries and territories below.
UPDATE FOR PEOPLE WITH VISAS THAT ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN
The quarantine requirements mentioned below will generally apply to entrants in Japan. As the conditions of who can obtain a visa for entry on exceptional circumstances are not clearly listed anywhere, it is necessary to confirm entry requirements with your local Japanese diplomatic representatives
Spouses and children of foreign permanent residents or Japanese nationals, can obtain visas for short term stays (up to 90 days) by applying in person or by mail at an overseas Japanese consulate. Required documentation includes application form, letter with reason for purpose of visit, bank statement and Koseki Tohon. Processing times have been reported as on the spot to up to one week.
From March 1st, business travelers, students and technical trainees can again enter Japan. There is a need to have a receiving organisation to apply for the visa. For business travelers, there will be one point of contact with the Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare. Though the full details are not published yet (as of typing on the 27th of February, please add them if you have seen them)
Business travelers must have a Japanese company or organization apply for a Certificate for Completion of Registration to the MHLW ERFS system. This is a two step process. The company must first register and then apply for the Certificate for the traveler. These can both be done online and completed in less than an hour.The website for doing this is https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp/.
After getting the certificate the traveler must apply for visa at the Japanese Consulate or Embassy with jurisdiction for where they reside. (They are quite strict about this. E.g. you can't apply while traveling in a foreign country.) The information on the Consulate pages state that you need Letter of Guarantee, Invitation Letter, etc when applying for the visa. In fact, however, if you have the EFRS certificate, all you need is the visa application, your passport and a photo. The Consulate will issue the visa within 5 days.
UPDATE JAPANESE CITIZENS AND RETURNING FOREIGN JAPAN RESIDENTS
All people travelling to Japan has to present a negative PCR test taking no earlier than. 72 hours before departure to be able to board the flight. The certificate has to meet the information requirements and test types from the Japanese government.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000799426.pdf
From the 7th of June, passport number, nationality, signature and stamp from the doctor/medical institution are no longer required.
The requirement for pre-departure test will be removed for passengers on flights landing after the 7th of September 00:00 provided that they have received a full bases vaccination and a booster vaccination. Accepted vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer, Astra, Zeneca, J&J, Novavax, Covaxin.
Uploading documents in advance via the mysos app or via the mysos website is required. For details please see https://www.hco.mhlw.go.jp/en/
The arrival process is as follows. Countries will be grouped in red, yellow, and blue.
- Group “Red”：On-arrival test is required. 3-day quarantine at a government-designated facility is required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate may have 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) instead.
- Group “Yellow”：On-arrival test and 5-day home quarantine (or 3-day home quarantine + negative result of a voluntary test) are required, however, those who obtain a valid vaccination certificate are not required to have on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures.
- Group “Blue”：Regardless of the vaccination status of the entrants/returnees, on-arrival test, home quarantine and other measures are not required.
Red countries:
Albania, Sierra Leone
Yellow countries:
Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cook Island, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Macau, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niger, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Republic of Burundi, Republic of Congo, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Solomon, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zimbabwe
Blue countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Argentine, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote d’lvoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Western Sahara, Zambia
For updates to the lists of countries and territories and changes to the rules check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page4e_001053.html and ask in the thread for clarifications and experiences of entering Japan.
Coronavirus impact in Japan [consolidated]
Feb 13, 2020, 9:01 pm
#91
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Maybe WuVi will "inspire" Japan to use less cash/coinage. Maybe it will also cause konbini to put a lid on the oden (gosh, I wish that were a euphemism).
Feb 13, 2020, 9:05 pm
#92
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
Watching the government press conferences there certainly do not fill me with any confidence.
Feb 13, 2020, 9:13 pm
#93
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
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Posts: 5,992
As it happens, my concerns are actually in the opposite direction, i.e. other countries putting entry restrictions or quarantine requirements on those who have been in Japan if things go out of control there.
Watching the government press conferences there certainly do not fill me with any confidence.
Watching the government press conferences there certainly do not fill me with any confidence.
Feb 13, 2020, 9:20 pm
#94
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Honestly, the bigger complication chance for travelers IMO is governmental restrictions on travel or freedom to move, which would be particularly troublesome while already on the trip. I have a few upcoming trips to Taiwan/Japan and my main concern is potential travel restrictions that might go into effect while traveling. Ironically, Japan will probably be at lower risk for this given their apparent need to appease China / the global community esp. in advance of Tokyo 2020 (as KevinDTW noted) and perhaps their cultural inclination to ignore things and hope they go away, but it should still be a major concern for travelers who are transiting other countries (e.g., Taiwan) where pax may also be banned from transiting should things get considerably worse in the country of departure.
In Taiwan and other countries with aggressive mandatory quarantine programs, I'd worry about being quarantined due to coming into contact (or even the government's perception of coming into contact) with a potential infected person and possibly getting stuck there for 14 days and having to rearrange flights, make new hotel plans, and figure out the work situation. There could also be complications returning to the home country, either with mandatory quarantine or even an outright ban (although not likely in the USA for citizens).
In Taiwan and other countries with aggressive mandatory quarantine programs, I'd worry about being quarantined due to coming into contact (or even the government's perception of coming into contact) with a potential infected person and possibly getting stuck there for 14 days and having to rearrange flights, make new hotel plans, and figure out the work situation. There could also be complications returning to the home country, either with mandatory quarantine or even an outright ban (although not likely in the USA for citizens).
My concern was evaporating until a couple days ago when it news started coming out from Jpn that people tested positive after testing negative repeatedly on prior screens. Now I'm pretty concerned with development over the past 24hrs.
If your trip is more than a month out, of course there's no reason to act now.
Feb 13, 2020, 9:22 pm
#95
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Feb 13, 2020, 9:29 pm
#96
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Feb 13, 2020, 9:55 pm
#97
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That took many months to accomplish. I think even Ghosn would just wait out a fourteen day quarantine.
Feb 13, 2020, 10:00 pm
#98
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Battleaxe Alliance
Posts: 22,127
I am not really talking about the perception of 'potential contact' etc. that you discussed in your subsequent paragraph as such, but a blanket policy of "entry bar on those who have been in Country XXX in the last YY days", with or without contact with suspected cases, as well as "All but essential travel" advisory issued by other countries that would invalidate my travel insurance for that country, or flight cancellations that may result from such advisory or for related commercial reasons which may play havoc with my itinerary. The potential implication is not simply about the quarantine but other wide-ranging impact that travel restrictions/advice may have.
Feb 13, 2020, 10:02 pm
#99
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I believe there's already four countries that now require a fourteen day quarantine period before entering if you have travelled to Japan.
Feb 13, 2020, 10:10 pm
#100
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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Feb 13, 2020, 10:16 pm
#101
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
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I am not really talking about the perception of 'potential contact' etc. that you discussed in your subsequent paragraph as such, but a blanket policy of "entry bar on those who have been in Country XXX in the last YY days", with or without contact with suspected cases, as well as "All but essential travel" advisory issued by other countries that would invalidate my travel insurance for that country, or flight cancellations that may result from such advisory or for related commercial reasons which may play havoc with my itinerary. The potential implication is not simply about the quarantine but other wide-ranging impact that travel restrictions/advice may have.
Feb 13, 2020, 10:25 pm
#102
Join Date: Oct 2015
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I only see three in the IATA list. Micronesia apparently changed their prohibition to just China.
Kiribati
Samoa
Solomon Islands
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
Kiribati
Samoa
Solomon Islands
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
Feb 13, 2020, 10:46 pm
#103
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Hilton, Hyatt House, Del Taco
Posts: 5,378
Not being able to work for 2 weeks would be devastating.
Of course I'm not breaking rules if 1/100 chance happens where such quarantine is enforced.
Feb 13, 2020, 10:49 pm
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Thanks for the Memories !!!
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I only see three in the IATA list. Micronesia apparently changed their prohibition to just China.
Kiribati
Samoa
Solomon Islands
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
Kiribati
Samoa
Solomon Islands
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
1. Passengers who have transited through or have been in China (People's Rep.) in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Solomon Isl.
2. Passengers who transited through Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea or Vanuatu are only allowed to enter Solomon Isl. if they have evidence that during the last 14 days they have not been in or transited through Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russian Fed., Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, USA, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom or Vietnam.
SAMOA - published 11.02.2020
Passengers who have transited through or have been in China (People’s Rep.), Hong Kong (SAR China), Japan, Macao (SAR China), Singapore or Thailand must have spent a period of 14 days in quarantine before arrival to Samoa. All travelers who have been in or transited through the countries with confirmed Coronavirus cases must have medical clearance issued 3 days before arrival.
KIRIBATI - published 06.02.2020
Passengers who have been in a country with confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) are not allowed to enter Kiribati. They must have stayed in a country with no confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) for a period of minimum 14 days before entering Kiribati.
Feb 13, 2020, 10:55 pm
#105
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tokyo, Japan (or Vienna whenever possible)
Posts: 6,379
SOLOMON ISL. - published 13.02.2020
1. Passengers who have transited through or have been in China (People's Rep.) in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Solomon Isl.
2. Passengers who transited through Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea or Vanuatu are only allowed to enter Solomon Isl. if they have evidence that during the last 14 days they have not been in or transited through Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russian Fed., Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, USA, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom or Vietnam.
SAMOA - published 11.02.2020
Passengers who have transited through or have been in China (People’s Rep.), Hong Kong (SAR China), Japan, Macao (SAR China), Singapore or Thailand must have spent a period of 14 days in quarantine before arrival to Samoa. All travelers who have been in or transited through the countries with confirmed Coronavirus cases must have medical clearance issued 3 days before arrival.
KIRIBATI - published 06.02.2020
Passengers who have been in a country with confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) are not allowed to enter Kiribati. They must have stayed in a country with no confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) for a period of minimum 14 days before entering Kiribati.
1. Passengers who have transited through or have been in China (People's Rep.) in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter Solomon Isl.
2. Passengers who transited through Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea or Vanuatu are only allowed to enter Solomon Isl. if they have evidence that during the last 14 days they have not been in or transited through Australia, Cambodia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep.), Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Russian Fed., Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, USA, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom or Vietnam.
SAMOA - published 11.02.2020
Passengers who have transited through or have been in China (People’s Rep.), Hong Kong (SAR China), Japan, Macao (SAR China), Singapore or Thailand must have spent a period of 14 days in quarantine before arrival to Samoa. All travelers who have been in or transited through the countries with confirmed Coronavirus cases must have medical clearance issued 3 days before arrival.
KIRIBATI - published 06.02.2020
Passengers who have been in a country with confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) are not allowed to enter Kiribati. They must have stayed in a country with no confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) for a period of minimum 14 days before entering Kiribati.